Geared tuning peg



May 15, 1928.

1,669,824 A. D. @ROVER GEARED TUNING PEG Filed Dec. 23, 1925 '2 snefets-sheet 1 INVENTOR. Y JJZber 17. Grover:

MJZ TTORNEYS; 1

May 15, 192s.

1,669,824 A. D. GRovER GEARED TUNING PEG Filed Dec. 23, 1925 2 Sheets-Se'et 2 nil-lun Patented May 15, 1928.

UNITED STATES ALBERT D. GBO'VER, OF LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK.

GEARED TUNING- PEG.

Application led December 23, 1925. Serial No. 77,201.

My invention relates to tuning pegs for stringed musical instruments and has reference more particularly to improvements in tuning pegs of the geared type in which the nger piece may be rotated at a relatively higher rate of speed than that of thel string shank, and as a consequence thereof very accurate tuning is made possible.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a tuning peg of this character which is relatively simple in construction, eifective in operation' and readily applicable to stringed instruments requiring the delicate tuning aiforded by the use of such a peg.

A further object of my invention is to provide a tuning peg of this character wherein guiding elements are disposed in the peg hole of the instrument, such elements being arranged to accurately center the string shank in the peg hole therebyavoiding possible jamming of .the shank with the wood wall of the opening when the tuning unit is applied to the instrument.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a tuning peg structure comprising a finger piece and shank, string shank, and a gear train carried by the Shanks and disposed to provide for varying the speed of rotation between the two Shanks.

I accomplish these objects by means of the structure and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanyin drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a top p an view of my improved tuning peg embodying a three to one gear ratio; Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same tak-en on lines 2-2 of Figure 4; Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the peg installed in the peg head of an instrument; Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on lines 4 4 of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the peg head and peg. Figure 6 is a top plan view of a slightly modified form of my invention and Figure 7 is a top plan view of the gear casing with cover removed to disclose the gear train; Figure 8 is a side elevational view of the modified construction mounted in a peg headgand Figure 9 Ais a substantially longitudinal sectional view of the same, taken on the lines 9-9 of Figure 6; and Figure 1() is a sectional view taken on lines 10-10 of Figure 7. 4

Referring to the drawings,'10 denotes the head portion of a string musical instrument and 11 the peg opening therein.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustratively exemplified in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, the peg proper comprises, a gear casing 12 which is a substantially diamond shaped cup member stamped from a single piece of sheet metal, and which at its open end is provided with a cover piece 13, the ends thereof being provided with small projections 14 adapted to seat in notches 15 cut in the edge of the casing 12 at the corners thereof. On the longitudinal axis of the cover piece and adjacent one end thereof, the material is punched outwardly to form a collar or bearing sleeve 16 adapted. to project into the peg opening 11 at the under side thereof and to be of suiiicient diameter to hug closely the wall of the said opening. A second bearing or eyelet 17 is similarly arranged in the other end of the opening 11, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the two bearings being alined to provide an accurate support for arotating string shank 18.

The string shank 18 is an integral member and comprises a spur gear 19 arranged within the casing 12, a bearing surface 20 projecting axially of the gear 19 and supported in the bearings 16 and 17, and a string receiving spindle 21 projecting axially beyond the surface 2O and provided with a transverse string opening 22 and cap 23. Alined with the string shank 18 and projecting from the closed end of the gear casing 12 is arranged a button'shank 24, which is provided with a reduced inner end portion 25 mounted to rotate in a bore 26 at the gear end of the shank 18, and which is square in cross section at its free end to receive a button 27. Interposed between the bead of the button 27 and closed end of the gear casing 12 and arranged about a cylindrical portion 28 of the button shank 24, is a thimble or cup shaped piece 29 having its closed end provi-ded with a bore to receive the portion 28vof the shank adjacent the closed endof the casing 12 and a bore of substantially larger diameter in the body of the cup to form a spring chamber 30, the open end thereof being closed by the bead or base of the button 27. A coiled .spring 31 is disposed within the chamber 30, the coils thereof embracing the shank 24 and tending normally to force the cup towards the gear casing 12. A washer 32 is disposed about the shank 24 between the cup 29'and casing 12. In order to exert the necessary pressure to collapse the spring 31 within the chamber 30, the outer end of the button 27 is provided with a bore 33 communicating with the broached vhole in the body of the button and mounted in this opening 33 and adjustable in a threaded bore in the end of the square 'shank"24, is a machine screw 34, which when tightened tends to telescope the button over the shank and against the spring until the bead lor, butt end of the button is contacting with the adj acent Aopen end of the cup 29.

Arranged within the vgear casing 12 and integral with the button `rshank between the cylindrical portion 28 `and reduced vportion 25, is -apiniongear 35 which meshes with an -idlergear -36 carried by an idlerpinion? in meshV with the spur gear 19. The pinion 37 is cut `from a length of .pinion rod 'which projects through and is rigid with thegear 36 and is of a length equal to the distance between the closed end lof the casing and the -cover piece 13. The pinion 37- is loosely mounted `on pin 38 lined at one end inthe cover piece 13 and at the other in the casing l2, as illustrated-in Figure 4. The pin 38 aside from forming a bearing for the pinion 87 yalso 4holds the casing and cover together,

both fof which are iprovided with alined openings 39 to reoeive wood screws 40 adapted to be inserted in the peg head 10.

According `to -the modification illustrated in Figures 6to 10 inclusive, the gear` casing 12 'is composed of a circular cup 4shaped member having a 'cover piece 13 which rests in a groove disposed about the inner periphery at theopen end. -Thecover 13 in this 4instance is yalso stamped vout adjacent the :periphery to 4form a bearing sleeve 16 which lis arranged in 'one end of the opening 11 while the opposite end is `provided with an `-eyelet 17 similar to the arrangement illustrated 'in Figure V1 to'inclusive. Thestring shank 18fin themodilied-'embodimentis provided witha-projection.41beyond the gear 19, the projection `being rotatably i'nounted inthe closed. end of the casing12, as illus-` trated in Figure9. yAdjacent lthe periphery ofthe casing '12 rand zat the side 4thereof opposite to the string lshank 18 is Vmountedthe button shank 24 Ehaving oneend provided with 'an integral pinion 35 'and the -Fopposite end extensible 'in the button .27, .as previously described. l111e f' button :shank 24 `is provided at theextreme'end beyond the gear 35 'with a projection42-rotatably mounted in :an opening inthe cover piece 18. The shank is further provided with aflange'43 spaced from the vgear 35 and arrangedto bean/'against the inner 'surf-ace Vof the lclosed end'of the casing. Movement is imparted from the'button shank to the 'string shank through an lidler 'pinion 44v mounted 1in the casingl and held constantly inmeshfwitih disposed 'in the-groove oi the casing I12', the i edge yor bezzle oi material defining the groove is turned over on thejcover, as illustrated in Figures 9 and l0, thereby producing a case lwhich is entirely dust and dirt proof.

The modified embodiment of the invention shown `in Figures 6 to 10 inclusive, is particularly :adaptable 4for Iuse in `connection with `the -cheaper grades or' instrumentsy not ordinarily sold with the fgear type tun-ing peg. -Practically no hand work is required to produce :the article,- and asa consequence the pegfmay vbe oileredto `'the public las at retail price attractive enough to :induce its adaption fto old instruments as well Ias to new low :priced 1instruments-- y According Vto vthe :present invention Thave illustrated the fgear; and pinions yas A having a ratio -sulicient to produce a `speed ratio of the button and string shanksof-B :to 41,*1whioh results 1in 'a 'very tine-degree of tuning.

It will be yclear :that 4in both A:terms eillustrated the gears and Shanks :are capable =of being securely locked yin Aany position 'because of the .rictional engagement of. `the parts brought about yby the spring action against .the 'cup member.

A` geared "tuning @peg iter-'stringed musical instruments, comprising -a rotary shank adapted lto lrecelive `a 'string-and having Vone 'enddcnminatinglin-an:integral gear element, a second rotary lshank arranged ico-'axially of 'lthe first shank 'and -havingone end termihating 'in an integral 'pinion gear, and Aan idler gear element o'omp'ri'sing 'a 4kpinion rod having a portion thereof in mesh =with :said

gear of the r irst shank, av spur A gear arranged on the 'other'portion oit the pinion frod and in meshwith fthe pinonofthe secondshank, a lcasing yenclosing the train of gears, and Spring meansdisposedabout saidlsec'ond rotary 4shank to `lnoim'ally lforce 'the pinion thereon into close contact withfthe casing to frictionally resist turning motion oiithesaid pinion when tension'o-therstring 'hase tendency=to unwind the 4same Aandrotate thet other gears. l l.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature.

ALB-ERTD. @ROVER 

